Assembly of an integrated circuit chip and of a plate

ABSTRACT

An assembly is made of an integrated circuit chip and a plate. At least one channel is arranged between the chip and the plate. The channel is delimited by metal sidewalls at least partially extending from one surface of the chip to an opposite surface of the plate. The assembly is encapsulated in a body that includes an opening extending to reach the channel. The plate may be one of an interposer, an integrated circuit chip, a support of surface-mount type, or a metal plate.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the priority benefit of French Application forPatent No. 1462372, filed on Dec. 12, 2014, the contents of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to the maximum extentallowable by law.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the assembly of an integrated circuitchip and of at least one plate such as a metal plate, another integratedcircuit chip, a support, and/or an intermediate plate currently calledinterposer. The present disclosure also relates to a method ofmanufacturing such an assembly.

The present disclosure relates to the case where the chip or the plateare individualized components as well as the case where, on assembly,one at least of these components forms a portion of a wafer which hasnot yet been sawn.

BACKGROUND

To increase the integration density of integrated circuits, integratedcircuit chips and plates such as a support, for example, of surfacemount type, and/or an interposer, may be assembled on one another.Connection elements such as pads, bumps, and/or pillars arranged betweenthe opposite surfaces of the plates and of the chips of the assemblyelectrically connect the plates and the chip(s). Interstitial resinoccupies the space available between the opposite surfaces of thecomponents of the assembly, be they plates or chips, and encapsulationresin coats these components. The interstitial resin and theencapsulation resin improve the mechanical stability of the assembly andprotect, for example, from humidity, the components of the assembly.

In operation, integrated circuits generate heat. The interstitial resinand the encapsulation resin are generally poor heat conductors and thetemperature of certain regions of the assembly may increase sufficientlyto cause damage. To remove the generated heat, channels conducting aheat-carrying fluid may be formed in the assembly. However, the formingof such channels generally requires specific manufacturing steps.

There thus is a need for an assembly of an integrated circuit chip andof at least one plate such that the assembly comprises a particularlyefficient cooling structure, and which requires the smallest possiblenumber of specific steps for its manufacturing, which should beparticularly simple and inexpensive to implement.

SUMMARY

Thus, an embodiment provides an assembly of an integrated circuit chipand of a plate, wherein at least one channel arranged between the chipand the plate extends from one edge to another edge of the smallest oneof the chip and the plate, and is delimited by metal sidewalls extendingat least partially from one surface of the chip to an opposite surfaceof the chip.

According to an embodiment, the interstitial resin fills, outside ofsaid at least one channel, the volume available between the chip and theplate.

According to an embodiment, said at least one channel extends beyondsaid edges.

According to an embodiment, the plate is an interposer, an integratedcircuit chip, a surface-mount type support, or a metal plate.

According to an embodiment, the sidewalls comprise adjacent alignedmetal bumps.

According to an embodiment, encapsulation resin covers the assembly, andopenings extend through the encapsulation resin all the way to the endsof said at least one channel.

According to an embodiment, connection elements extend, outside of saidat least one channel, from the surface of the chip to the oppositesurface of the plate.

Another aspect provides a method of manufacturing a flip-chip assemblyof an integrated circuit chip and of a plate between which is arrangedat least one channel delimited by metal sidewalls, the method comprisingthe successive steps of:

-   -   a) forming metal walls corresponding to at least a portion of        the height of each of the sidewalls on a surface of the chip        and/or a surface of the plate;    -   b) inserting sacrificial resin between the walls of the and/or        between the walls of the chip, at least at the level of the        contour of the smallest one of the plate and the chip;    -   c) mounting the chip and the plate on each other, the sidewalls        being formed by the walls and extending at least partially from        the surface of the chip to the surface of the plate; and    -   d) removing the sacrificial resin.

According to an embodiment, the walls are formed at the same time as theconnection elements arranged between the opposite surfaces of the chipand of the plate.

According to an embodiment, at step c), the sacrificial resin extendsalong the entire length of said at least one channel, up to a portion atleast of the height of the walls.

According to an embodiment, at step c), the walls extend totally fromthe surface of the chip to the surface of the plate, the sacrificialresin totally obstructing said at least one channel at the level of saidcontour.

According to an embodiment, before step d), interstitial resin isarranged in the entire volume accessible between the chip and the plate.

According to an embodiment, encapsulation resin is arranged on thelargest one of the chip or of the plate to form the upper surface of theassembly and, before the removal of the sacrificial resin, openings areformed through the encapsulation resin all the way to the sacrificialresin.

According to an embodiment, a plurality of channels are simultaneouslyformed and, at step b), the sacrificial resin arranged on the surface ofthe largest one of the chip or of the plate further extends along stripsorthogonal to the channels, the strips being arranged to contact thesacrificial resin extending between the walls at the level of theirends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be discussed indetail in the following non-limiting description of specific embodimentsin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C schematically show a first example of an assemblyof a chip and of plates, the assembly comprising heat removal channels;

FIGS. 2 to 6 are perspective cross-section views illustrating successivesteps of a method of manufacturing an assembly of the type in FIGS. 1Ato 1C;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 illustrate successive steps of a method ofmanufacturing a second type of assembly;

FIGS. 9 to 12 are cross-section perspective views illustratingsuccessive steps of a method of manufacturing an example of heatdischarge channels arranged on a surface of a plate; and

FIGS. 13 and 14A-14C schematically illustrate successive steps of amethod of manufacturing another example of heat removal channelsarranged on a surface of a plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For clarity, the same elements have been designated with the samereference numerals in the different drawings. Further, in the followingdescription, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “lateral”, “topped”,etc., apply to assemblies oriented as illustrated in the correspondingdrawings, it being understood that, in practice, the devices may havedifferent orientations. Further, terms such as “substantially”,“slightly”, etc. should be interpreted as meaning “to within 10%”.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C schematically show a first example of assembly ofchips and of plates. FIG. 1A is a perspective cross-section view alongplane AA of FIGS. 1B and 1C, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are cross-section viewsof the assembly, respectively along planes BB and CC of FIG. 1A.

In FIG. 1A, assembly 1 comprises one chip 3 and two plates, that is, inthis example, an interposer 5 and a support 7 of surface-mount type.Chip 3 is mounted on interposer 5, itself being mounted on support 7.Electrically-conductive pads 9 and 9′ are supported by the oppositesurfaces of support 5 and of interposer 7. Metal bumps 11 connect a pad9 to an opposite pad 9′. Metal pillars 13 and 13′ are supported by theopposite surfaces of interposer 5 and of chip 3, each pillar 13 beingconnected to an opposite pillar 13′ by a soldering to form elements ofconnection between the chip and the interposer.

In this first example of assembly, three heat removal channels 15parallel to one another are arranged between interposer 5 and chip 3,pillars 13 and 13′ being distributed outside of the channels. Eachchannel 15 is laterally delimited by metal sidewalls 17 extending fromthe upper surface of interposer 5 to the lower surface of chip 3. Eachsidewall 17 comprises a metal wall 19 supported by the upper surface ofthe interposer and a metal wall 19′ supported by the lower surface ofchip 3, wall 19 being connected to wall 19′ by a soldering. In thisexample, walls 19 and 19′ are metal lines made of the same material aspillars 13 and 13′. In the shown example, chip 3 and interposer 5 arerectangular, and chip 3 has a smaller surface area than interposer 5. Asshown in FIG. 1C, on the interposer side, each wall 19 extends from afirst edge to a second opposite edge of contour 21 of the projection ofchip 3 on interposer 5, and may extend out of contour 21 of the chip, oneither side of the first and second edges. As shown in FIG. 1B, on thechip side, each wall 19′ extends from the first edge to the second edgeof contour 21 of chip 3.

Outside of channels 15, resin 25 fills, around pillars 13 and 13′, theentire free space between chip 3 and interposer 5. Resin 25 also fillsthe free space between interposer 5 and support 7. In the shown example,resin 25 extends from the upper surface of support 7 all the way to theupper surface of chip 3 to coat the chip and interposer 5, and to formthe upper surface of assembly 1. Resin 25 is thus used as encapsulationresin and as interstitial resin.

Two openings 27 cross resin 25, from the upper surface of the assemblyall the way to the upper surface of interposer 5, the openings beingarranged, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, outside of contour 21 of chip 3, oneither side of the first and second edges of contour 21. Each channel 15emerges, at one of its ends, into one of openings 27, and, at its otherend, into the other opening 27. Thus, a heat-carrying fluid may flowfrom one opening 27 to the other through channels 15.

Due to the fact that sidewalls 17 of channels 15 are metallic and arethermally conductive, they take part in the heat removal, which improvesthe cooling efficiency. In addition to taking part in the heat removal,metal sidewalls 17 enable to reinforce the assembly of chip 3 and ofinterposer 5 despite the absence of resin 25 in channels 15.

The lower surface of chip 3 may correspond to the active surface of thechip where the heat-generating integrated circuits are formed. In thiscase, channels 15 are arranged close to the integrated circuits, whichenables a more efficient removal of heat.

According to a first alternative embodiment, channels 15 extend from theupper surface of interposer 5 up to a height substantially equal to thatof walls 19, the space between each channel 15 and the lower surface ofchip 3 being occupied by resin 25. In this variation, walls 19′ may beabsent.

According to a second alternative embodiment, channels 15 extend fromthe lower surface of chip 3 up to a height substantially equal to thatof walls 19′, the space between each channel 15 and the upper surface ofinterposer 5 being occupied by resin 25, with the possibility for walls19 to be absent. In this variation, it is provided for openings 27 toborder or to overlap the first and second edges of contour 21 of chip 3.

FIGS. 2 to 6 schematically illustrate successive steps of a method ofmanufacturing an assembly of the type in FIGS. 1A to 1C, and moreparticularly an assembly where three channels parallel to one anotherare arranged between opposite surfaces of a plate 5 and of an integratedcircuit chip 3, pillars electrically connecting chip 3 and plate 5 beingdistributed outside of the channels. Plate 5 may be an integratedcircuit chip, a support of surface-mount type, or an interposer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-section view schematically showing onehalf of plate 5 of FIG. 1A after the forming, at the same time and withthe same material, of metal pillars 13 and of metal walls 19 on itsupper surface intended to be opposite chip 3. The length of walls 19 isselected so that, once chip 3 has been assembled on plate 5, each wall19 extends from a first edge to a second opposite edge of contour 21 ofthe projection of chip 3 on plate 5. As shown, each wall 19 may extendout of contour 21, on either side of the first and second edges of thiscontour.

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-section view schematically showing half ofplate 5 after having formed sacrificial resin 37 between the walls(reference 38) and along two strips 39 orthogonal to the walls. Strips39 (a single one of which is shown) are arranged outside of contour 21,on both sides of this contour, to contact sacrificial resin 38 at theends of walls 19. In this example, resin layer 37 has substantially thesame height as walls 19. Sacrificial resin 37 is for example formed bydeposition and etching.

FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-section view schematically showing onehalf of chip 3 after the forming, at the same time and with the samematerial, of pillars 13′ and of walls 19′ on its upper surface intendedto be opposite plate 5. Each wall 19′ extends from the first edge to thesecond opposite edge of contour 21 of chip 3. A sacrificial resin layer37 has been formed, by deposition and etching, between walls 19′, andextends from the first to the second edge of the chip. In this example,resin layer 37 has substantially the same height as walls 19′.

As an example, pillars 13 and 13′ and walls 19 and 19′ are formed byelectrochemical deposition (ECD) of a metal, for example, copper.Pillars 13 and walls 19 have a same height and, similarly, pillars 13′and walls 19′ have a same height. The heights of walls 19 and 19′ arefor example in the range from 5 to 200 μm, and may be equal to 50 μm.The width of a channel, that is, the space between two walls 19 or 19′,is for example in the range from 5 to 1,000 μm, and may be equal to 100μm. It should be understood that in practice, the opposite surfaces ofchip 3 and of plate 5 support a number of pillars 13′ and 13 much higherthan that shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, for example, more than 500 pillarsper surface.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section perspective view schematically showing plate 5of FIG. 3 and chip 3 of FIG. 4 after assembly. The assembly is performedby flipping chip 3, pillars 13 and walls 19 being respectively placedopposite pillars 13′ and walls 19′, and then by soldering pillars 13 topillars 13′, and walls 19 to walls 19′. Each assembly of a pillar 13 andof a pillar 13′ forms a connection element connecting a pad of plate 5to an opposite pad of chip 3. Each assembly of a wall 19 and of a wall19′ forms a sidewall 17 of a channel 15. The assembly of chip 3 and ofplate 5 may be mounted on another plate, for example, a support plate asillustrated in FIG. 1A.

Encapsulation resin 25 is arranged on the upper surface of plate 5 allthe way to above the upper surface of chip 3 to coat chip 3, and to formthe upper surface of the assembly. Encapsulation resin 25 penetrates bycapillary action into the entire free volume accessible between plate 5and chip 3, and, due to the presence of sacrificial resin 37 in channels15, resin 25 does not penetrate into channels 15. In this example,encapsulation resin 25 is also used as an interstitial resin.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-section view of the assembly of FIG. 5after two openings 27 have been formed. Openings 27 (a single one ofwhich is shown) extend from the upper surface of the assembly all theway to strips 39 of sacrificial resin (see FIG. 3), substantially alongthe same pattern. As an example, openings 27 are formed by laserdrilling.

Sacrificial resin 37 is dissolved by a solvent which penetrates throughopenings 27. Once resin 37 has been removed, openings 27 providingaccess to the channels and channels 15 such as those described inrelation with FIGS. 1A to 1C are obtained, and a heat-carrying fluid mayflow from one opening 27 to another through channels 15. As an example,sacrificial resin 37 is a hydrosoluble resin; in this case, the solventused is water.

The manufacturing method described in relation with FIGS. 2 to 6 islikely to have many variations, particularly as concerns theinterstitial resin. According to a first variation, interstitial resinmay be injected between chip 3 and plate 5 while they are assembled oneach other, but before forming encapsulation resin. According to asecond variation, interstitial resin is arranged on plate 5, after thestep illustrated in FIG. 3, but before assembling chip 3 and plate 5. Inthis case, the interstitial resin extends up to a height greater than orequal to that of the space between chip 3 and plate 5 once mounted oneach other. At the time of the assembly, the interstitial resin issoftened by heating so that pillars 13′ and walls 19′ supported by chip3 penetrate into the interstitial resin all the way to pillars 13 and towalls 19 supported by plate 5. This second variation may in particularbe used in the case where, at the time of the assembly, plate 5 forms aportion of a wafer which has not been sawn yet.

Various variations may be provided, in particular, as concerns thedeposition of sacrificial resin 37. According to a first variation, itis possible to deposit the sacrificial resin on plate 5 only and not onchip 3. It may also be provided not to form walls 19′ or for thesacrificial resin deposited on plate 5 to form an overthickness so thatit at least partially extends between walls 19′ of chip 3 when thelatter is mounted on plate 5. According to a second variation, it ispossible to deposit sacrificial resin 37 on chip 3 only and not on plate5. It may then be provided not to form walls 19 or for the sacrificialresin deposited on plate 3 to form an overthickness so that it at leastpartially extends between walls 19 of plate 5 when the latter is mountedon chip 3. In this second variation, it is provided for openings 27 toextend from the upper surface of the assembly all the way to plate 5 andto border or overlap the first and second edges of chip 3. According toanother variation, it may be provided for sacrificial resin 37 to beformed, between walls 19 and 19′, only at the level of contour 21 ofchip 3 to obstruct the channels at their ends when chip 3 is mounted onplate 5 and for walls 19 and 19′ to form a continuous partition betweenchip 3 and plate 5 due to a soldering.

FIGS. 7A-7B and 8 schematically illustrate successive steps of a methodof manufacturing a second example of assembly, and more particularly anassembly where two channels parallel to each other are arranged betweenopposite surfaces of two plates 5 and 7, metal bumps 11 electricallyconnecting opposite pads 9 and 9′ of these plates being distributedoutside of these channels. In this example, plate 5 is an integratedcircuit chip and plate 7 is a surface-mount type support, support 7 andchip 5 being rectangular, and the surface area of support 7 beinggreater than that of chip 5.

FIGS. 7A-7B schematically show support 7 after the forming of pads 9topped with bumps 11 on its upper surface intended to be opposite chip5, FIG. 7A being a top view of the support and FIG. 7B being across-section view along plane BB of FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7A, someof bumps 11 form lines of bumps forming walls 119. The length of walls119 with respect to the dimensions of contour 121 of the projection ofchip 5 on support 7 is selected as described in relation with FIG. 3.

Sacrificial resin 137 is formed, by deposition and etching, to extendbetween walls 119 (reference 138), and along two strips 139 orthogonalto the walls as described in relation with FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-section view schematically showing chip 5and support 7 of FIGS. 7A-7B after assembly of the chip on the support.The surface of chip 5 intended to be opposite support 7 supports pads9′. The assembly of chip 5 on support 7 is performed by arranging eachpad 9′ of the chip opposite a bump 11 supported by a pad 9 of support 7,and then by heating and applying a pressure on the upper surface of chip5 so that each bump 11 connects a pad 9 of support 7 to a pad 9′ of chip3. Thus, walls 119 of bumps 11 and sacrificial resin 137 between thewalls (reference 138) extend from the surface of support 7 to theopposite surface of chip 5. As shown, during the assembly, bumps 11 areslightly crushed.

As in the manufacturing method described in relation with FIGS. 2 to 6,resin 125 coats the assembly and penetrates by capillary action into theentire free volume accessible between plate 5 and chip 3.

Openings 127 formed in resin 125 extend from the upper surface of theassembly all the way to sacrificial resin strips 139 (see FIG. 7A),substantially along the same pattern. Sacrificial resin 137 is thenremoved to obtain channels 115 extending from one opening 127 to theother, channels 115 having metal sidewalls.

As an example, pads 9 and 9′ are made of copper. Bumps 11 are forexample made of a metal or of a hard metallic alloy coated with a soldermaterial. The diameter of bumps 11 may be in the range from 20 to 200μm, and is for example equal to 100 μm. The pad thickness may be in therange from 1 to 50 μm, and is for example equal to 25 μm.

The method described in relation with FIGS. 7A-7B and 8 is likely tohave various alterations and modifications such as for example describedin relation with the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 6. It may further beprovided for bumps 11 of a wall 119 to be arranged between metal trackssupported by the chip and by the plate rather than between adjacent pads9 and 9′.

FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate successive steps of a method of manufacturingan example of heat removal channels arranged on a surface of anintegrated circuit chip 3, and more particularly channels arrangedbetween this chip and a metal plate inserted into resin encapsulatingthe chip.

FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-section view schematically showing onehalf of chip 3 after the forming of metal walls 219 on its uppersurface. As compared with the contour of the projection of the metalplate on the chip, walls 219 extend similarly to what has beenpreviously described. As an example, the wall height may be in the rangefrom 1 to 200 μm, and is for example equal to 50 μm. The walls are forexample formed by electrodeposition of a metal, for example, copper.

FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-section view schematically showing halfof chip 3 of FIG. 9 after the forming, by deposition and etching, ofsacrificial resin 237 extending between metal walls 219 (reference 238)and along two strips 239 (a single one of which is shown) orthogonal tothe walls. Strips 239 are arranged to be in contact with sacrificialresin 238 at the ends of walls 219.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section perspective view of half of chip 3 of FIG. 10and of one half of a metal plate 200 assembled, for example, bysoldering, on wall 219 of the chip.

FIG. 12 is a perspective cross-section view showing the assembly ofplate 200 and of chip 3 after mounting on a plate 5, itself mounted on asupport 7. Pillars 13 and 13′ connect opposite pads of chip 3 and ofplate 5, and bumps 11 connect opposite pads 9 and 9′ of plate 5 and ofsupport 7.

Encapsulation resin 225 is arranged on the upper surface of support 7all the way to a level higher than or equal to that of the upper surfaceof metal plate 200 to coat plate 200, chip 3, and plate 5, and to formthe upper surface of the assembly. Encapsulation resin 225 penetrates bycapillary action between support 7 and plate 5, and between plate 5 andchip 3, resin 225 occupying all the accessible free space between thesecomponents.

Two openings 227 (a single one of which is shown) are formed throughresin 225, each opening 227 extending from the upper surface of theassembly all the way to a strip 239 of sacrificial resin 237. Aspreviously, sacrificial resin 237 is then removed to obtain channels 215provided with metal sidewalls.

According to a variation, it is possible to only arrange sacrificialresin between some of walls 219, and, after removal of the sacrificialresin, interstitial resin separates some of channels 215.

FIGS. 13 and 14A-14C schematically illustrate successive steps of amethod of manufacturing another example of heat removal channelsarranged on a surface of an integrated circuit chip 3.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view showing chip 3 after the forming on itsupper surface, by deposition and etching, of strips of sacrificial resin337 parallel to one another. A metal layer 340, for example, a copperlayer, is arranged over the entire upper surface of chip 3 and coversresin strips 337.

FIGS. 14A to 14C show chip 3 of FIG. 13 at a next step, FIG. 14A being aperspective view and FIGS. 14B and 14C being cross-section views alongplanes BB and CC of FIG. 14A. Encapsulation resin 325 is arranged onmetal layer 340 to cover the latter. In this example, the upper surfaceof resin 325 is planar. Openings 327 are formed through theencapsulation resin to reach the ends of sacrificial resin strips 337.At a next step, not shown, the sacrificial resin is removed to obtainheat removal channels, five in the present example, metal layer 340forming the sidewalls and the upper wall of each channel.

A common feature of all the previously-described embodiments is that thesidewalls of the heat removal channels are metallic and thermallyconductive. The conductive sidewalls enable to better distribute heatpeaks and increase the cooling efficiency. Further, the metal sidewallsof the channels enable to reinforce the mechanical strength of theassembly, despite the absence of interstitial resin in the channels.

In the context of the manufacturing methods described in relation withFIGS. 2 to 6 and with FIGS. 7A-7B and 8, the channels are formed betweenthe opposite surfaces of two plates electrically connected to each otherby connection elements. In such manufacturing methods, the channelsidewalls are formed at the same time and with the same materials as theconnection elements and imply no specific manufacturing steps other thanthe deposition of a sacrificial resin.

Specific embodiments have been described. Various alterations,modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled inthe art. In particular, the shape, the dimensions, the number, and thelocation of the channels and of the openings may be adapted by thoseskilled in the art.

It is possible for the channels not to be rectilinear and/or not to beparallel to one another. They may have a non-constant width. It may alsobe provided for one or a plurality of pads, tracks, bumps, or pillars tobe arranged within a channel.

The openings for accessing the channels may directly emerge on thechannel ends, no connection strap being provided between these ends. Itmay also be provided for the channels to extend all the way to thelateral edges of the assembly, in which case the access openings becomeuseless.

Although channels arranged between a chip and a plate of an assemblyhave been described, it should be understood that channels may be formedbetween two plates of an assembly, neither of which is an integratedcircuit chip. For example, channels may be formed between an interposerand a support of surface-mount type.

Different examples of channel manufacturing methods have been described,and it should be understood that the order of the steps indicated inthese methods can be modified and adapted by those skilled in the art.For example, in the method described in relation with FIGS. 9 to 12, onemay first form a sacrificial resin layer, etch this layer a first timeso that it can be used as a mask during the forming of the walls, andthen etch this layer a second time so that it extends as illustrated inFIG. 10.

Various embodiments with different variations have been describedhereabove. It should be noted that those skilled in the art may combinevarious elements of these various embodiments and variations withoutshowing any inventive step.

Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to bepart of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit andthe scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoingdescription is by way of example only and is not intended to belimiting. The present invention is limited only as defined in thefollowing claims and the equivalents thereto.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: an integratedcircuit chip; and a plate; wherein at least one channel arranged betweenthe integrated circuit chip and the plate extends from one edge toanother edge of a smaller one of the integrated circuit chip and theplate, and is delimited by metal sidewalls at least partially extendingfrom a surface of the integrated circuit chip toward an opposite surfaceof the plate, the metal sidewalls extending continuously from the oneedge to the another edge of the smaller one of the integrated circuitchip and the plate.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisinginterstitial resin that fills, outside of said at least one channel, avolume available between the integrated circuit chip and the plate. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one channel extendsbeyond said edges.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is oneof an interposer, an integrated circuit chip, a support of surface-mounttype, or a metal plate.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesidewalls comprise aligned adjacent metal bumps.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising an encapsulation resin defining an uppersurface disposed parallel to an active surface of the integrated circuitchip, openings formed in the upper surface extending through theencapsulation resin to reach ends of said at least one channel.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein connection elements extend, outside ofsaid at least one channel, from the surface of the integrated circuitchip to the opposite surface of the plate.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the metal sidewalls are a plurality of continuous metal lines.9. An apparatus, comprising: an integrated circuit chip having a firstsurface; a plate having a second surface; wherein the integrated circuitchip is mounted to the plate with the first surface facing the secondsurface; a channel with metal sidewalls extending between the firstsurface of the integrated circuit chip and the second surface of theplate; and an encapsulating body surrounding the integrated circuit chipand the plate and forming an upper surface oriented parallel to thefirst surface of the integrated circuit chip, an opening formed in theupper surface extending to reach said channel.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the plate is one of an interposer, an integratedcircuit chip, a support of surface-mount type, or a metal plate.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the sidewalls comprise aligned adjacentmetal bumps.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the metal sidewallsare a plurality of continuous metal lines.
 13. An apparatus, comprising:an integrated circuit chip; a plate; at least one open channel delimitedby metal sidewalls extending between a surface of the integrated circuitchip and a surface of the plate, the metal sidewalls extendingcontinuously from one edge of the integrated circuit chip to an oppositeedge of the integrated circuit chip, the at least one open channel;corresponding to a height of each of the metal sidewalls on one of thesurface of the integrated circuit chip or the surface of the plate; andan encapsulation resin arranged on at least one of the integratedcircuit chip and the plate, said encapsulation resin including anopening that extends to reach said at least one open channel.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the plate is one of an interposer, anintegrated circuit chip, a support of surface-mount type, or a metalplate.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the metal sidewallscomprise aligned adjacent metal bumps.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13wherein the encapsulation resin defines an upper surface orientedparallel to an active surface of the integrated circuit chip and theopening is formed in the upper surface of the encapsulation resin. 17.An apparatus, comprising: an integrated circuit chip having a firstsurface; a pair of metal sidewalls extending from one edge of theintegrated circuit chip to an opposite edge of the integrated circuitchip on the first surface, said pair of metal sidewalls at leastpartially defining an open channel; a plate mounted to top surfaces ofthe metal sidewalls; a body which encapsulates the integrated circuitchip and plate and defines an upper surface disposed parallel to thefirst surface of the integrated circuit chip, said body including anopening extending from and formed in the upper surface to reach the openchannel.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plate is one of aninterposer, an integrated circuit chip, a support of surface-mount type,or a metal plate.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the metalsidewalls comprise aligned adjacent metal bumps.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 17 wherein a portion of the open channel extends orthogonal to themetal sidewalls, said portion being aligned with the opening formed inthe upper surface of the encapsulate body.
 21. The apparatus of claim 17wherein the first surface of the integrated circuit chip is an activesurface.